42 U.S. Code § 1320c - Purpose

The purpose of this part is to establish the contracting process which the Secretary must follow pursuant to the requirements of section
1395y(g) of this title, including the definition of the quality improvement organizations with which the Secretary shall contract, the functions such quality improvement organizations are to perform, the confidentiality of medical records, and related administrative matters to facilitate the carrying out of the purposes of this part.

Section 149 ofPub. L. 97–248, as amended by Pub. L. 98–369, div. B, title III, § 2354(c)(3)(C),July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1102, provided that: “The amendments made by this subtitle [subtitle C (§§ 141–150) of title I of Pub. L. 97–248, enacting this part, amending sections
1395b–1,
1395g,
1395k,
1395l,
1395x,
1395y,
1395cc,
1395pp,
1396a, and
1396b of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections
1305 and
1320c of this title] shall, subject to section
150 [section 150 ofPub. L. 97–248, set out as a note below], be effective with respect to contracts entered into or renewed on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 3, 1982].”

“(1) In general.—The Secretary [of Health and Human Services] shall request the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to conduct an evaluation of the program under part B of title XI of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1320c et seq.]. The study shall include a review of the following:

“(A) An overview of the program under such part.

“(B) The duties of organizations with contracts with the Secretary under such part.

“(C) The extent to which quality improvement organizations improve the quality of care for medicare beneficiaries.

“(D) The extent to which other entities could perform such quality improvement functions as well as, or better than, quality improvement organizations.

“(E) The effectiveness of reviews and other actions conducted by such organizations in carrying out those duties.

“(F) The source and amount of funding for such organizations.

“(G) The conduct of oversight of such organizations.

“(2) Report to congress.—Not later than June 1, 2006, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study described in paragraph (1), including any recommendations for legislation.

“(3) Increased competition.—If the Secretary finds based on the study conducted under paragraph (1) that other entities could improve quality in the medicare program as well as, or better than, the current quality improvement organizations, then the Secretary shall provide for such increased competition through the addition of new types of entities which may perform quality improvement functions.”

“(1) Development and implementation of plan.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall develop and implement a plan to coordinate the physician review activities of peer review organizations and carriers. Such plan shall include—

“(A) the development of common utilization and medical review criteria;

“(B) criteria for the targetting of reviews by peer review organizations and carriers; and

“(C) improved methods for exchange of information among peer review organizations and carriers.

“(2) Report.—Not later than January 1, 1992, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the development of the plan described under paragraph (1) and shall include in the report such recommendations for changes in legislation as may be appropriate.”

Evaluation of Professional Standards Review Organizations

Pub. L. 97–448, title III, § 309(d),Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2410, provided that: “In order to avoid unfairly discriminating against professional standards review organizations whose performance was evaluated during the first and second calendar quarters of 1982, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall disregard the results of such evaluations and shall carry out such new evaluations of such organizations as may be necessary to select utilization and quality control peer review organizations in accordance with subtitle C of title I of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 [sections 141–150 ofPub. L. 97–248] and part B of title XI of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1320c et seq.] as amended by such subtitle.”

Maintenance of Current Professional Standards Review Organization Agreements

“(a) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not terminate or fail to renew any agreement in effect with a professional standards review organization under part B of title XI of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1320c et seq.] on the earlier of the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 3, 1982] or September 30, 1982 until such time as he enters into a contract with a utilization and quality control peer review organization under such part, as amended by this subtitle [subtitle C (§§ 141–150) of title I of Pub. L. 97–248], for the area served by such professional standards review organization. In complying with this subsection, the Secretary may renew any such agreement with a professional standards review organization for a period of less than 12 months.

“(b) The provisions of part B of title XI of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1320c et seq.] as in effect prior to the amendments made by this subtitle [subtitle C (§§ 141–150) of title I of Pub. L. 97–248] shall remain in effect with respect to agreements with professional standards review organizations in effect on the earlier of the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 3, 1982] or September 30, 1982, until such time as such agreement is terminated or is not renewed, in accordance with subsection (a). Any matters awaiting a determination by a Statewide Professional Standards Review Council on the date of the enactment of this Act shall be transferred to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for a determination unless such determination is made by such Council within 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. No payments shall be made under part B of title XI of the Social Security Act to Statewide Professional Standards Review Councils for services performed under section 1162 of such Act [42 U.S.C. 1320c–11] after the end of such 30-day period.”